Republican Bernie Herpin is getting a taste of his own medicine: He faces a campaign finance complaint over his campaign literature in the recall of Senate President John Morse[2], a Colorado Springs Democrat.

Herpin and other Senate District 11 residents who want Morse recalled in a special Sept. 10 election[4] because of his support for gun control[5] have made much of the fact that Morse was the subject of two ethics complaints, but they aren’t telling voters the whole story. But as Herpin will find out, once complaints have been filed they sometimes have a life of their own.

“This frivolous complaint is another desperate attempt to distract voters from John Morse’s repeated ethics problems and failed record,” Herpin said. “This frivolous complaint is laughable on its face.”

An ethics complaint filed against Morse over his condo in Denver[6] was signed by a person who couldn’t answer any questions about the complaint, and who never answered any calls, e-mails or letters from the Independent Ethics Commission. The complaint was dismissed as groundless.

Voters on Sept. 10 will be asked whether Morse should be recalled and who should succeed him. Herpin is already on the ballot and Libertarian Jan Brooks[8] is attempting to get on. Herpin’s campaign literature mentions the ethics complaints against Morse.

The finance complaint was filled by Ann Schmitt of Manitou Springs. Neither she nor Herpin could immediately be reached for comment.